Sunday, October 25, 2026 - The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has spread to an eighth province, raising urgent concerns about the safety of vulnerable communities already struggling with conflict, displacement and severe food shortages. On October 23, 2026, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned that nearly 3.5 million people in outbreak-affected areas face crisis-level food insecurity.

The agency cautioned that hunger could force patients to interrupt treatment and push families to leave isolation in search of food, increasing the challenges facing health workers. With the outbreak expanding into communities with limited medical services, humanitarian agencies are calling for immediate funding to sustain lifesaving assistance.

The crisis is being compounded by insecurity, damaged roads and severe weather, which are making it harder to transport food, medical supplies and emergency personnel. According to the WFP, 97% of people directly affected by the outbreak still require food assistance.


The agency has delivered more than 744,000 hot meals at treatment and isolation facilities and distributed over 3,000 metric tonnes of food to patients’ families. It is also helping construct Ebola treatment centres and providing transport and logistical support to medical teams. However, the WFP says it needs $214 million over six months to sustain its wider emergency response, including food deliveries, humanitarian flights and treatment infrastructure.


Health experts and humanitarian officials warn that controlling the outbreak requires more than medical treatment alone. Families need reliable access to food, safe isolation facilities and essential services to follow public health guidance without risking their livelihoods. Continued funding shortages could interrupt assistance precisely when affected communities need it most.


The WFP is urging international donors to provide flexible financial support so food supplies continue moving and treatment facilities remain operational. As Ebola spreads into additional areas, the immediate priorities are containing transmission, protecting healthcare workers and supporting families facing both disease and hunger. A coordinated response is critical to reducing further suffering and preventing existing humanitarian emergencies from becoming even more severe.